Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did.So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. --- Mark Twain

Monday, April 21, 2014

San Pedro de Atacama II

Written in Calama.

San Pedro de Atacama is a nice town, small enough, and everything necessary for life is close at hand. Only a few hundred meters from the overnight place. There are some so-called main streets in the center of the town for which are designed for pedestrians and on the sides of which are predominantly either hostels or tourist services companies, or both together.
For a change, there are some restaurants and souvenir shops.

The following is a typical street scene at noon.

A craft store, travel agency and of course an integral part of San Pedro de Atacama – huge stray dog​​s.

The emphasis is on the word "huge". If we look back, Argentina is also full of stray dogs, but there they're still in smaller sizes.

There are enough of them for all the streets.

It is possible to rent bicycles to move about in the neighborhood.

Casa Incaica - the oldest house in the city, from the year of 1540.

Fresh fruit and vegetables can be bought from the market. And even more food, such as eggs and even coca leaves in plastic bags. And packaged coca tea is available, which is actually manufactured in Peru (according what is written on the package). The coca tea helps to acclimate in the mountains. San Pedro de Atacama is indeed an altitude of 2400 meters, but the height must be considered, while visiting for example the El Tatio geothermal water, situated at an altitude of 4320 meters.
Or,in case you plan to climb even higher, since there are quite a lot of interesting places here.

Licancabur volcano, the height is 5920 m.

I had planned to stay here a bit longer and take some trips in the in the neighborhood. Lasting for some days. And the town itself has also unique and positive aura.
Simple and peaceful.

A couple of days later on the market you are already a familiar client. And the same- in a chicken-grill round the corners. No need to order anything - but you just wave your hand and say “Hallo”! and a moment later one quarter of a chicken is brought on your table.

Sparrows.

San Pedro de Atacama - while it gets darker. Secure, lighted . No need to have a flashlight with.
Perhaps around the church it could have been better lit, but still enough light to move around. And the environment could be recognized somehow usually by some kind of the sixth sense.